2018 Cruise & Stay Brochure

Mediterranean Cruise Deals

The only way to explore the Meditearranean

What better way to explore the stunning Mediterranean than aboard a top cruise ship, where you’ll discover the vibrant cities, inspiring ancient ruins & sun-kissed beaches.

Home to some of Europe's most diverse countries, the Mediterranean Sea is a treasure trove of dramatic coast lines, untouched beaches and beautiful architecture. It’s calling you to Seize your Holiday, relax and unwind, watching the world go by, whilst indulging in local delicacies. Tap into your imagination and follow in the footsteps of gladiators & gods.

Why Cruise the Med?

For the first timer or the seasoned cruiser, the Mediterranean provides a great cruising experience. Sail directly from the U.K. or fly into one of the many European ports on one of our Fly & Cruise packages, you are just a short hop
from the glorious shores of the Mediterranean. The ease in which the Med is accessible is the reason why it is one of our most popular cruising regions.

There is no better way to explore the rich culture and heritage of the Mediterranean than from a spectacular cruise liner, so even when you’re travelling between destinations, you’ll still be able to enjoy the VIP lifestyle, enjoying
world-class cuisine, sipping on cocktails, partying on deck or relaxing in the spa.

At Virgin Holidays, and through our cruise partners we can provide flights into the European city of your choice, there are regular departures from London Gatwick, Luton, Stanstead, Birmingham, East Midlands, Bristol, Leeds
Bradford, Newcastle, Glasgow & Edinburgh in order to meet with your cruise departure. Speak with one of our consultants on 0203 668 8742, book online or Visit one of our stores

When considering a cruise around the Mediterranean, there are three topics you are most likely to consider:

Depart from a UK Port - Southampton

Embarking your holiday in Southampton is as easy as catching the train, hopping onto a short internal flight, using a home to port transfer service or driving yourself directly to the port, whether it be the night before or on the day of
your cruise departure, we can arrange parking or transfers, along with an overnight stay before your cruise if you wish. Why not start your holiday early?
Southampton departures will often visit ports such as La Coruna, Cadiz, Malaga, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Cannes, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Cagliari, Seville, Messina, Venice, Split, Dubrovnik, Monte Carlo, La Spezia, Cartagena (Spain), to
name but a few.

Some of our recommended Cruise lines and the ships that operate from Southampton and Cruise into the Mediterranean are P&O Cruises, with the Oceana, Britannia, Arcadia, Azura and Oriana all embarking in Venice.

Embark at Barcelona

A great way to start your cruise holiday is to fly into Barcelona. We will always recommend flying into Barcelona, either 1 or 2 days before, so that you can explore one of the most popular cities in Europe. With a varied selection of
flights and hotels to choose from, your holiday can start before you walk on the deck of your chosen sailing. We call this a cruise and stay holiday.

If you can't wait to get on board, there are plenty of flight options that will get you into Barcelona in plenty of time to check in and board your chosen cruise

Our Cruise consultants can answer any questions you may have and can help with your holiday choices, either Visit one of our local stores, speak with one our
Cruise consultants on 0203 668 8742 or Book Online.

Barcelona departures will often Visit ports such as Monte Carlo (Villefranche), Corsica, Marseille, and Genoa and usually last for about a week as a minimum sailing period. Some of our recommended Cruise lines and ships that operate from Barcelona and Cruise into the Mediterranean are Royal Caribbean International who operate the Symphony of the Seas out of Barcelona. The ever popular Princess Cruises also have a choice of sailings from the Princess Cruises fleet. Norweigan Cruise Line is a regular favourite and offers a great experience in the Med, with the Norweigan Epic.

Another of our firm favourites is Disney Cruise Linewith selected sailings from Barcelona, contact us for the best choice for you and your family, for more information about the cruise lines departing Barcelona either Visit one of our local stores, speak with one our Cruise consultants on 0203 668 8742 or Book Online.

Embark at Venice

The romantic city of Venice is an ideal choice for you to begin your cruise holiday, explore this historic jewel, before boarding your chosen sailing

If you can't wait to get on board there are plenty of flights available to get you to Venice in plenty of time to check in; and board your chosen cruise. Our Cruise consultants are on hand should you need more information by either
visiting one of our local stores, or speak with one our Cruise consultants on 0203 668 8742, our
website can also provide you with your chosen holiday and simply book online, simply search our availability.

Venice departures will often Visit ports such as Dubrovnik, Corfu, Athens, Split, and the Greek islands and usually last for about a week as a minimum.

Some of our recommended Cruise lines that operate from Venice and Cruise into the Mediterranean are Royal Caribbean International which has a number of ships which explore the mediterranean,Rhapsody of the Seas being one of the more popular, and has regular sailings out of Venice.

Princess Cruises has selected sailings throughout the year and we at Virgin holidays can offer you a choice from the Princess Cruises fleet, for more information either visit one of our local stores, or speak with one our Cruise consultants on 0203 668 8742.

Norweigan Cruise Lines also operate from Venice, and a popular ship is the Norweigan Star. The renowned Cunard line, known for their transatlatic sailings also provide sailings in the mediterannean, and aswell as using Venice as a stopping port, we are also able to provide Fly & cruise packages on the Queen Victoria which embark at Venice.

Celebrity Cruises have a frequent sailing calendar which includes the popular Celebrity Constellation jump aboard at Venice and enjoy this splendid 5 star ship, which contains many of the Solstice class features.

Embark in Rome(Civitavecchia)

Rome is at the top of most travellers bucket lists, a city drenched in history and dolce vita, many of our cruisers spend at least a few days exploring this beautiful city before embarking on a sailing. As with Venice and
Barcelona, if you can't wait to get on board there are plenty of flights available to get you to Rome and transfer to the port in plenty of time to check in; and board your chosen cruise. Our Cruise consultants are on hand should you
need more information by either
visiting one of our local stores, or speak with one our Cruise consultants on 0203 668 8742, our
website can also provide you with your chosen holiday and simply book online, simply search our availability.

Rome departures visit pretty much the same ports as the Barcelona sailing, Monte Carlo (Villefranche), Corsica, Marseille, and Genoa and usually travel in the opposite itinerary to the Barcelona departures, both cities have their own
unique qualities, and we recommend that you take the time to explore these great cities before or even after, your cruise. Our dedicated cruise consultants, can even cater packages that will allow you to experience both cities.

Norweigan Cruise Lines also operate from Rome, and a popular ship is the Norweigan Star, which following it's recent renovation in 2015 means it
shines brighter than ever, also adding the Norweigan Epic, which sails around europe all year round, and finally we have the Norweigan Spirit which spends its time crusing the Mediterranean in the summer months before heading off to the Caribbean for the winter programme. Princess Cruises has selected sailings throughout the year and our dedicated consultants can provide you with a choice that suits your travel needs, just contact us and we will be happy to help.

Embark in Malta

Malta is at the centre of the Mediterranean, and is an ideal starting point for Cruising in this region. The Port at Valetta is one of the most intrigtuing that you will experience, not to mention what delights the island has to
offer itself. If you wish to use Malta as a starting point P&O Cruises are the only cruise line that offer sailing's that begin and end in Malta. A number of our other cruise partners, use Malta as
a visiting port, if this interests you then please talk to one of our Cruise consultants.

Malta should be explored and we can offer you great Cruise and stay packages, with flights from many of our regional airports, consider 2 nights in Valetta, or maybe 2 days on the beach before boarding your ship. P&O are proud to
cruise from Malta with the Oceana, visitng such ports as Dubrovnik, Split, Venice, Messina, Rome, Monte Carlo, La Spezia (Italy), & Ajaccio (Corsica). Select a 7, 10 or 14 nt
cruise and possibly add a nights stay. If this is not for you we have plenty of Fly-Cruise packages to choose from.

As indulgent as the cruises are, be sure to experience everything the Mediterranean has to offer by exploring ashore. There is plenty for all the family to enjoy throughout your holiday, so you can be immersing yourself in the historic sites of Rome one day, followed by rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous in Monte Carlo the next. Then to help you recover from that jet-setting lifestyle, unwind on a blissful and sun kissed sea day.

Ports of Call on a Mediterranean Cruise

The Mediterranean oozes culture and history for anyone that wants to explore. Step back in time and relive being a Roman or Greek, soak up the atmosphere of Las Ramblas & Monte Carlo or simply unwind on the beaches of Ajaccio or Corfu; there’s a cruise that visits every destination you’ve ever dreamed of. With Ex-UK & Fly-Cruising available. Embark your holiday in Southampton, Barcelona, Rome or Venice, it couldn’t be easier. During your holiday you can visit some popular locations such as Florence/Pisa, Venice, Dubrovnik & Athens to name but a few, and you can also find some hidden gems such as Kotor (Montenegro), Valletta (Malta), Cartagena (Spain) & Cephalonia (Greece) along the way.

Things to do in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean offers the ultimate mix of rich heritage, vibrant culture and relaxing beaches on top of your fantastic on board facilities available at your finger-tips. So whether you want to spend time with the family exploring Pompeii, the Colosseum, Ephesus & Olympia or indulge in your romantic side with your loved one by soaking up the waterways & canals of Venice… there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Best time to visit the Mediterranean

You’ll enjoy hottest and sunniest weather during the summer months in the Mediterranean. More moderate temperatures are prominent between April and October, which is the favoured time to vacation for seasoned Mediterranean holidaymakers.

The summer months (between May and October) boast particularly sizzling temperatures thanks to the glorious Mediterranean sunshine, making it a particular favourite time of year for sun-worshipers, but with temperatures averaging between 30-40 degrees at peak months it is worth taking strong sun cream and plenty of water especially if you off exploring the historical sights and sounds.